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Taylor Nardinger

Gobert becomes first Timberwolves player to win Defensive Player of the Year honors 

Minneapolis/St. Paul – The NBA today announced Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert has been named the 2023-24 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year. This is Gobert’s fourth career NBA Defensive Player of the Year honor (2023-24, 2020-21, 2018-19 and 2017-18), becoming the third player in NBA history to win the award four times, joining Dikembe Mutombo (2000-01, 1997-98, 1996-97 and 1994-95) and Ben Wallace (2005-06, 2004-05, 2002-03 and 2001-02). Gobert is the first player in Timberwolves history to win Defensive Player of the Year honors.&nbsp;

Anchored by Gobert’s top defensive rating in the NBA of 106.6 (min. 25 minutes per game), the Timberwolves finished the 2023-24 campaign with the top ranked defense in the NBA (108.4) after ending last season 10th with a defensive rating of 113.1. The gap between the Wolves’ defense and the second ranked Boston Celtics is equivalent to the gap between the second ranked and the 10th ranked Houston Rockets. Minnesota finished this season with a net rating of 6.3, good for third in the NBA and the best net rating in franchise history. Teams took 6.4% less shots at the rim when Gobert was on the floor this season (94th percentile) and shot 6.6% worse at the rim when he played (92nd percentile).&nbsp;

The 7-1 center wrapped up his 11th season in the NBA and second with the Timberwolves, playing and starting in 76 games this season, the fourth-most appearances in his career and the most games played since he appeared in 81 games in the 2018-19 season. This season, Gobert averaged 14.0 points on 66.1% shooting, a team-best 12.9 rebounds and a team-high 2.13 blocks per contest. His 2.13 blocks were his most blocks per game since 2020-21 (2.68 bpg). He ranked second in the NBA in rebounding (12.9 rpg), second in field goal percentage (.661), second in offensive rebounds (3.8 rpg), fourth in defensive rebounds (9.2 rpg), sixth in blocks (2.13 bpg) and fifth in double-doubles (54).&nbsp;

Gobert became the fifth player in team history to notch 54 or more point/rebound double-doubles, joining Kevin Garnett, Kevin Love, Al Jefferson, and Karl-Anthony Towns as the only players in franchise history to do so. He tallied 38 double-doubles with at least two blocks during the 2023-24 campaign, the second most such games in franchise history in a single season, trailing only Garnett’s 47 in the 2003-04 season. In one of his best performances of the season against Atlanta on April 12, Gobert led the Timberwolves with a game-high 25 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting, a game-high 19 rebounds and five blocks, joining Garnett as the only players in Timberwolves history to finish a game with 25+ points, 19+ rebounds and 5+ blocks. Gobert’s performance against Atlanta set franchise records for most field goal attempts without a miss (10-of-10 FGA) and highest field goal percentage (1.000 FG%) while taking at least 10 attempts.&nbsp;

The Timberwolves ended the 2023-24 season with a 56-26 record, the second-highest win total in franchise history. Minnesota secured the third seed in the Western Conference, marking the third consecutive year clinching a spot in the NBA Playoffs, the most consecutive seasons making the playoffs since eight straight appearances from 1996-2004. Minnesota won an NBA-best 37 games against Western Conference opponents, the most wins against the West in Timberwolves history. The Wolves led the Western Conference this season with 26 road victories, the second-most road wins in franchise history (27 in 2003-04). Minnesota finished the season 12-4 against Northwest Division opponents, tied for the most wins in team history against division foes (12 in 2021-22).&nbsp;&nbsp;

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Minnesota Timberwolves Center Rudy Gobert Named 2023-24 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year 

jmosson

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Wolves Pics: Wolves Defeat Nuggets In GAME TWO | 05.06.24

minnesota-timberwolves-defeat-denver-nuggets-in-game-two-106-80-05-06-24

Minnesota Timberwolves Defeat Denver Nuggets In GAME TWO, 106-80 | 05.06.24

Associated Press

DENVER -- — Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns powered Minnesota's 106-80 blitz of the Denver Nuggets on Monday night that gave the Timberwolves a 2-0 lead in the Western Conference semifinals over the reigning but reeling NBA champions.

Towns and Edwards both scored 27 points as the Wolves improved to 6-0 in the playoffs and gave themselves a chance to close out the fuming Nuggets with wins Friday night and Sunday in Minneapolis.

So dominant were the Wolves that they had the Nuggets throwing both fits (Michael Malone) and objects onto the court (Jamal Murray).

Aaron Gordon led Denver with 20 points, Nikola Jokic had 16 points and 16 rebounds but their third-leading scorer was sub Justin Holliday with 13 points. Murray scored 8 points on 3-of-18 shooting.

The Wolves staggered the Nuggets with body blow after body blow even though their starting center Rudy Gobert was back home in Minneapolis attending the birth of his son Sunday. But they didn't need Gobert's shot blocking prowess and rim protection on this night to continue their domination of the Nuggets at Ball Arena, where Denver was 36-8 before their back-to-back losses to Minnesota.

Kyle Andeson replaced Gobert in the starting lineup and the Timberwolves hounded Jokic and disrupted Denver's offense just the same.

During a 43-18 first-half flourish by the Timberwolves — Edwards was on the bench for much of it, no less — the Nuggets grew so frustrated that Malone ran way out onto the court and got in official Marc Davis' face for an extended blowup during a timeout and somehow avoided a technical.

So did Murray after Denver's ailing point guard threw a heat pack onto the court in frustration as Towns was about to score on a layup in the second quarter.

It wasn't clear if the officials realized it was Murray who threw the object onto the court and not a fan. He will likely face punishment from the league, however.

Frustrated by their slow starts — the Nuggets have trailed by double digits in six of their seven playoff games and by nine in the other — Malone challenged his team to get off to a strong start for once.

“What are we waiting for?" he pleaded after Sunday's practice.

Only Aaron Gordon heeded his coach's call, scoring 13 quick points, including a 3-pointer that brought the Nuggets to 18-17 late in the first quarter.

Things unraveled for Denver after that because Jokic was the only other starter to score for the Nuggets before the second quarter. Jokic had just eight points by halftime and Murray, still bothered by a strained left calf, scored just two first-half points for the duo's worst offensive output in a half this season.

Trailing 61-35 at the break, the Nuggets' 26-point halftime deficit was Denver's largest in a home playoff game in franchise history.

The Wolves led 82-60 after three quarters and cruised the rest of the way.

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Edwards, Towns lead Wolves' 106-80 blitz of Murray, Jokic for 2-0 series lead over champion Nuggets

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Anthony Edwards Drops 27 Points In GAME 2 WIN vs Nuggets | 05.06.24

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Karl-Anthony Towns Drops DOUBLE-DOUBLE In GAME 2 WIN Over Denver | 05.06.24

Matt Stanton

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Chris Finch Pregame Sound | 05.06.24

Michael Grady catches up with Jamal Crawford before Game 2.

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Michael Grady x Jamal Crawford Pregame Interview | 05.06.24

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